Is meant by 'exploitation' under PREA?

• A. It refers to any theft occurring in prison.
• B. Taking advantage of a person’s vulnerability for sexual purposes or profit, including coercive acts or sexual acts for personal gain.
• C. Exploitation only refers to economic gain outside the facility.
• D. Only physical violence that occurs during detention.

Answer: (B)

Exploitation under PREA means using a person’s vulnerability to obtain sexual gratification or personal gain, typically through coercion or abuse of power. This covers situations where someone with authority or trust manipulates, threatens, or pressures another person into sexual acts or into providing sexual favors for profit. The description in the correct answer captures taking advantage of vulnerability for sexual purposes or profit, including coercive acts or sexual acts for personal gain. The other options miss the essential element of leveraging vulnerability for sexual ends: theft isn’t about sexual exploitation, exploiting for economic gain outside the facility misses the inside context and vulnerability aspect, and focusing only on physical violence ignores the coercive sexual dimension PREA aims to address.